Sixers' Joel Embiid aims to play back-to-backs within the month | Why that matters (VIDEO)

When Brett Brown was finished with Sixers practice on Monday afternoon, done with media obligations, he stood beside Joel Embiid and smiled as the star center launched a full-court shot.

It's a happy Monday for Brown, the Sixers' coach, and as he left the team's practice facility to get ready for a nighttime flight to London -- the Sixers play against Boston in England on Thursday afternoon -- he was feeling jovial.

If all goes well, Embiid feels like he might be able to start playing both games in back-to-back situations by the end of the month or beginning of February. The main concern, he said, was getting into shape so his body allows him to practice in on days immediately following games, which he hasn't done much this season.

"It's about me keep practicing off of games, the next day practicing and seeing how my body feels," Embiid said. "That's the decision. Obviously I want to play but that's a decision that (comes down to if) I can sustain the intensity in games, practice."

Embiid said his hand, which he sprained against the Suns on New Year's Eve, is still bothering him "a lot" but not enough to keep him off the court.

So if Embiid can start playing on back-to-back nights, it would be a major development for the Sixers, currently with a 19-19 record and seeded in eighth (and final) playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It will be a close playoff race, and if the Sixers are going to lock themselves into their first postseason since 2012, it would help to have their best player available on a more consistent basis.

The Sixers are 2-7 when Embiid doesn't play and 17-12 when he does. They have five more back-to-backs scheduled this season.

Sixers guard J.J. Redick called it "encouraging" to see Embiid back and practicing.

"I think there's a rhythm not only to his play when he practices but how we play," Redick said. "It's been tough at times for Jo this year to get into a rhythm, both with his back tightening up and with precautionary measures with his load management and that takes its toll on a team for sure."

Simply, Redick said, the team is better when Embiid is playing.

"He's our best player," Redick said. "When he's on the floor, we're a much better team, and it sort of doesn't matter who plays with him, we're just a much better team with him on the floor. It's encouraging to see him practicing, it means he's feeling good."

Even if Embiid doesn't play all the back-to-backs left this season -- the next is Jan. 28 and Jan. 29 -- his availability in practice will go along way toward helping the chemistry on a team filled with young (and new) players.

After all, despite what Allen Iverson thinks, practicing without your best player isn't exactly ideal. Even better -- the Sixers have been practicing with No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz the last two days, too.

"I think it's good," Embiid said. "Me being there, we're still learning how to play together. I think it helps us a lot."

A practice roster that includes Embiid, Fultz, Redick, Ben Simmons and other Sixers pieces, including their latest addition, James Young ... that makes Brown happy.

"When I can go home and I see Joel with his teammates and practicing," Brown said. "We're in a little bit of a rhythm, but it's born out of health. Give us our best players, please let them be healthy for a while and let's get into a rhythm. I'm excited for those reasons."